· Palestinians, including 20 civilians, killed by Israeli occupying forces
· Continued Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas,
many Palestinians arrested and public and private properties destroyed
· Israeli forces assassinate 6 Palestinians in Rafah,
including 3 brothers
· Israeli forces raze large areas of Palestinian
agricultural land in the Gaza Strip
· Continued strict siege on the OPT and an old man dies
at an Israeli military checkpoint
This week the
Israeli occupying forces escalated their war against the Palestinian people in
an unprecedented manner. They invaded and seized control over large areas of
Palestinian land in the West Bank and declared their intention to remain there
for a long period, until completing the establishment of “the security wall”
between the West Bank and the Green Line. In the meanwhile, the Israeli government declared the mobilization of
its reserve forces, and called on officers of the “civil administration” for
service, indicating that Israeli occupying forces may move back to the
situation that preceded the signing of the Oslo Accords on 13 September
1993. Furthermore, the Israeli prime
minister declared that his troops would initiate a war against armed
organizations in the Gaza Strip, without defining the nature of such war.
Under the
continuous international conspiracy of silence, Israeli occupying forces
perpetrated more violations against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT). This week, Israeli forces encroached into more Palestinian
areas, killing a number of Palestinians and destroying several public and
private facilities. 25 Palestinians, including 20 civilians, were killed by
Israeli occupying forces this week.
The Israeli
Government said that it would deploy a series of measures aimed at escalating
the attacks against the Palestinians people and their properties. These
measures have been implemented by reoccupying most of the West Bank and
announcing that the Israeli Occupying Forces would stay there for a longer
period of time. Israeli occupying forces
killed a number of Palestinians, destroyed public and private properties and arrested
many. They deprived 10000s of Palestinian
students of attending the exams of the general secondary certificate (Tawjihi),
which began on 17 June.
In a
continuation of the assassination policy officially adopted by the Israeli
government against Palestinian activists and political leaders, on Monday 24
June, Israeli occupying forces assassinated six Palestinians, including three
brothers. Two of the killed were apparently wanted by the Israeli occupying
forces; the others killed in the operation were innocent civilians. The
operation took place in al-Joneina neighborhood in Rafah in the south of the
Gaza strip. An Israeli apache helicopter
fired two missiles against a taxi carrying five passengers. When hit, the taxi
was only about 500 m from Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital. The shelling
completely destroyed the car, all five passengers were killed. In addition, other cars driving in the area,
were hit by big pieces of shrapnel and another Palestinian civilian was killed.
Moreover, 13 other bystanders were injured.
On Friday, 21
June, Israeli occupying forces indiscriminately fired at Palestinian laborers
working in “Erez” industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, in an attempt to
target a suspected a person. Two
laborers and the suspected person were killed. On Wednesday, 26 June, Israeli forces fired at Palestinian laborers in
the same area, wounding three.
Jewish settlers, under full protection of Israeli
occupying forces, continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians in the
OPT. On Friday, 21 June, armed settlers
attacked Burin village, south of Nablus. They broke doors and windows of houses and opened fire indiscriminately
before the eyes of Israeli occupying forces. A settler fired at a Palestinian civilian killing him with a live bullet
in the heart.
This week, Israeli
occupying forces razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the Gaza
Strip. They also demolished five houses
in Rafah, some of them totally.
Israeli
occupying forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT in a
collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
Israeli forces have separated Palestinian areas, transforming them into
cantons. In
the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on
al-Mawasi area, isolating it from the rest of the strip.
This
report covers Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians in the OPT
during the period 20-26 June 2002.
At
approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, supported by combat helicopters
and covered by intense shelling, invaded Bitounia town, west Ramallah. They seized complete control over the village
and imposed a curfew. Then they raided
houses and arrested many Palestinians. Israeli bulldozers also blocked all the roads leading to the town with
sand barriers and rocks. Israeli forces
took position on the roofs of a number of houses and civilian buildings.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and a bulldozer, moved approximately
300m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They imposed a strict siege on the
village. Then, Israeli soldiers, whose
number was estimated at 250, raided houses and arrested more than 20
Palestinian young men. The young men
were taken to an Israeli military location at the eastern border of the Gaza
Strip. They were interrogated and later
they were released. During this
incursion, Israeli forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and
damaged a number of houses:
1. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with dates and olives owned by ‘Othman ‘Eteiwi Abu Sha’ar.
2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and okras owned by Rabah ‘Awad al-Sumeiri.
3. They demolished a wall of a 160-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house owned by Hammad ‘Abdul Raziq Abu Sha’ar.
4. They demolished a 25-meter-long fence of a house
owned by Modallala Harb al-Kurd.
Israeli forces also seized areas of agricultural land:
1. A 10-donum area of agricultural land owned by Jom’a
Rezeq Abu Sha’ar.
2. A 6-donum area of agricultural land owned by Riadh
al-Agha.
3. A 7-donum area of agricultural land owned by Jomei’an
Salama al-Sumeiri.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces,
supported by helicopters and covered by intense shelling, invaded Tulkarm and
its two refugee camps. They seized
complete control over the area and imposed a curfew. Then, they opened fire at houses.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces in a
military location on Zo’rob Hill in the southwest area of Rafah, opened fire at
opposite Palestinian houses, wounding Barakat Isma’il Zo’rob, 18, with shrapnel
in the right leg and arm.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces
surrounded the old city of Jenin. They
raided and searched a deserted house owned by Sufian ‘Ata al-Sa’di, claiming that
some wanted Palestinians were hiding inside. Then, they totally destroyed the house located adjacent to seven old
houses close to one another, without allowing residents of these houses to get
out. These houses were partially
destroyed, including a house rented by Hussam Fares Suleiman al-Sa’di. Al-Sa’di’s son Fares, 13, died from suffocation
under the ruins of their house, and seven members of the family were injured:
1. Muna Ibrahim al-Sa’di, 22, sustained a serious
fracture in the spinal column;
2. Ahlam Shaker al-Sa’di, 34, the mother, sustained a
fracture in the hand and bruises in the body, the forearm and the head;
3. Assil Hussam Fares al-Sa’di, 6, sustained a hemorrhage
in the head, a fracture in the hand and bruises in the body;
4. Mahmoud Hussam Fares al-Sa’di, 10, sustained a
fracture in the left leg and bruises in the body;
5. Hadil Hussam Fares al-Sa’di, 16, sustained bruises
and injuries in the body;
6. Rabi’ Hussam Fares al-Sa’di, 14, seriously injured in
the head and the back; and
7. Hussam Fares al-Sa’di, 39, sustained bruises in the
head and throughout the body.
At approximately 02:00, around 150 tanks and armored
vehicles of Israeli occupying forces, supported by combat helicopters and
covered by intense shelling, invaded Nablus and its refugee camps. They seized complete control over the area
and imposed a curfew. Israeli soldiers
took position on roofs of a number of civilian buildings. They destroyed some public properties and
opened fire at houses. They also shelled
some buildings of an-Najah National University.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles coming from “Netzarim” settlement, moved approximately 500m into Sheikh
‘Ejlin area in the south of Gaza City. Israeli bulldozers razed approximately 60 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land and demolished a site of the Palestinian National Security
Force. They also leveled all sand
barriers making the area clear for Israeli military observation towers
surrounding the aforementioned settlement. At approximately 09:00, Palestinian farmers hurried toward their lands
to check what happened. Soon, an Israeli
tank that was passing on the coastal road opened fire at them. ‘Abdul Samad Hashem Mohammed Shamallakh, 10,
was critically wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the head while he was with
his cousins on their razed land. The
child was evacuated in an ambulance but he succumbed to his wound on the way to
hospital. Israeli forces also beat and
insulted a number of Palestinian farmers.
Following are details of the destruction in the area
caused by Israeli occupying forces:
1. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with figs and cucumbers, destroyed an irrigation network and demolished
a 120-square-meter building that contained a well and store of agricultural
tools, owned by Musbah Ibrahim Shamallakh.
2. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs owned by ‘Eid Ahmed Shamallakh.
3. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs owned by Hamdan ‘Omran Ahmed Shamallakh.
4. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs and destroyed a well owned by ‘Abdul Qader Ahmed al-‘Awawda.
5. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes, figs and vegetables owned by ‘Abdul ‘Azziz Ahmed al-‘Awawda.
6. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes, figs and vegetables owned by ‘Ouda Ahmed al-‘Awawda.
7. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with guavas and figs owned by ‘Abdul Malek Ahmed al-‘Awawda.
8. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, figs and vegetables owned by Shehada Ahmed al-‘Awawda.
9. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted
with vegetables owned by Jawad Ahmed al-‘Awawda.
10. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes, figs and vegetables owned by Rushdi Yousef al-‘Awawda.
11. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes, figs and vegetables owned by Shehda Suleiman Shamallakh.
12. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs owned by Sa’di Ibrahim Shamallakh.
13. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs owned by Farhana Shamallakh.
14. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs owned by Mousa ‘Abdul Hadi Shamallakh.
15. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs owned by ‘Abdul Wahab ‘Abdullah Shamallakh and
brothers.
16. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with cucumbers and peppers owned by Hashem Mohammed Shamallakh.
17. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with cucumbers and peppers owned by Nabih Mohammed Shamallakh.
18. They razed a 600-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with grapes owned by Samih Ja’rur.
19. They severely damaged a 620-square-meter bird farm
owned by Ishaq ‘Ali Shamallakh.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces
lifted the curfew that was imposed on Jenin and its refugee camp on the
previous day. When Palestinian civilians
went out of their houses to buy food, a tank and four military jeeps of Israeli
forces raided al-Bassatin neighborhood. At approximately 10:50, the tank fired a shell and opened fire at
passing Palestinian civilians. Three
civilians, including two children, were killed:
1. Sujud Ahmed
Turki Fahmawi, 6, hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the chest;
2. Ahmed Yousef ‘Abdul ‘Azziz Ghazzawi, 9, hit by
shrapnel from the tank shell that cut his body into parts; and
3. Hilal Mustafa
Mahmoud Shata, 52, an educational supervisor, hit by a heavy caliber bullet in
the chest.
In addition, 14 civilians were wounded:
1. ‘Abdul Ghani Ibrahim Kamal Rahhal, 24, wounded by a live
bullet in the left leg;
2. Shatha Ahmed
Turki Fahmawi, 2½, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
3. Na’el Ahmed
Turki Fahmawi, 12, wounded by three live bullets in the back, the abdomen and
the right knee;
4. As’ad Hassan
Zeid, 65, wounded by a live bullet in the left arm;
5. Dr. Samer
Wahid Haidar al-Ahmed, 45, director of the Union of Agricultural Relief
Committees in Jenin, seriously wounded by shrapnel from the tank shell in the
back and the chest;
6. Hassan
Kumayel Tamim Jaradat, 22, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head;
7. Ziad Mahmoud
Esteitia, 27, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head;
8. Hassan Ahmed ‘Ali Abu Zeid, 27, wounded
by shrapnel in the chest;
9. Mohammed
Nemer ‘Abdullah Mar’ei, 63, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
10. Yahia ‘Abdullah Tafesh, 52,
wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
11. Mahmoud
Rashid Hammad, 32, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the neck;
12. Ahmed ‘Awadh Mufleh ‘Abdul Khaliq, 62, wounded
by shrapnel in the body;
13. Tariq Yousef ‘Abdul ‘Azziz Abu ‘Azziz, 11, wounded by a
live bullet in the left foot; and
14. Jamil Yousef ‘Abdul ‘Azziz Ghazzawi, 12, wounded
by shrapnel in the left foot and the right thigh.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into the southern part of Halhul town near Hebron. They surrounded a Palestinian police station
and ordered the five policemen who were there to get out of the building under
threats of weapons. Then they searched
the station and confiscated files. Approximately 3 hours later, Israeli forces left the station and held
the five Palestinian policemen in a military location adjacent to the town
until 23:00.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Rashad
Mohammed Hussein al-Ja’bari and arrested his son Mohammed, 20.
Israeli occupying forces positioned on roofs of
houses and on tanks in Nablus, which they seized control over on the previous
day, opened fire at Palestinian civilians who got out of their houses to buy
food. Eight civilians were wounded:
1. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Natur, 52, from Balata refugee
camp, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face;
2. Mohammed Jamal Hashash, 13, from ‘Askar refugee camp, wounded
by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right arm;
3. Islam Mohammed Khudier, 14, from Balata refugee camp,
wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;
4. ‘Aamer Hassan ‘Oleyan, 17, wounded by a
live bullet in the head;
5. Eyad Muhannad Nazzal, 12, from Nablus, wounded by two
live bullets in the chest and the abdomen;
6. Mohammed Hassan Mahmoud al-Sayed, 31, from Nablus,
wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets in the legs;
7. Fadia Maohammed Shiqqu, 17, from Nablus, wounded by a
live bullet in the left foot; and
8. Khaled Salim ‘Othman, 37, from Nablus,
wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces in a
military location on Zo’rob Hill in the southwest of Rafah, opened fire at
opposite Palestinian houses. Kamal
Mohammed Bureika, 15, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A number of houses were damaged, but no
casualties were reported.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces at the
eastern border of the Gaza Strip shelled Palestinian houses and farms in
al-Farahin area in Khan Yunis. No
casualties were reported.
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
supported by combat helicopters and covered by intense shelling, invaded
Qalqilya. A number of medical personnel
of al-Aqsa Medical Centre were severely beaten by Israeli soldiers.
In the morning, medical sources in Jenin declared
that Jamil Yousef ‘Abdul ‘Azziz Ghazzawi, 12, succumbed to a wound he received
on Friday morning, 21 June, when Israeli occupying forces shelled al-Bassatin
neighborhood. Ghazzawi was seriously
wounded by shrapnel in the left foot and the right thigh. Ghazzawi’s brother and two other civilians
were also killed by that shelling.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces
imposed a strict siege on al-Yamun village, west of Jenin. Then, an infantry unit of these forces moved
into the village and imposed a curfew. Three Palestinian young men attempted to get out of their houses in
order to leave the village, but Israeli forces noticed them and fired at them
from a distance of approximately 50m. One of them, Eyad Tayseer Sammudi, 28, was killed by two live bullets in
the head and the left shoulder. The
other young men were also wounded:
1. Tha’er Khalil Saleh Sammudi, 26, seriously wounded by
a live bullet in the left eye; and
2. Mustafa Ibrahim Sammudi, 36, wounded by two live
bullets in the left shoulder and foot.
At approximately 07:45, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled
Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp located behind Nasser
Hospital. An artillery shell hit a
250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, approximately 900m north of the
settlement, in which 27 persons live, owned by N’eman Sha’ban ‘Olwan. The roof was destroyed and the owner’s son
Mohammed, 10, was wounded by shrapnel in the head and the limbs.
Throughout the day, Israeli occupying forces razed
areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the north of Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip. Such Israeli
actions continued sporadically until Tuesday, 25 June and were as follows:
1. Israeli
forces razed a 4-donum area on which greenhouses planted with vegetables stood
owned by Nuzha Mohammed Khudeir.
2. They razed
2-donum area on which greenhouses planted with vegetables stood owned by Subhi
al–Shurafa
and farmed by Hassuna Mousa Abu Khusa.
3. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables owned by Isma’il
al-Halul and farmed by Hussein ‘Ali Tamim.
4. They razed a
7-donum area of agricultural land planted with corns owned by ‘Omar Rashwan.
5. They razed a
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables owned by Medhat ‘Abdullah Abu Halubs and the
heirs of his bother ‘Awni.
6. They razed a
4-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, on which a
greenhouse stood, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Hussein
al-Shaf’ei.
7. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mhmoud Hussein al-Shaf’ei.
8. They razed a
12-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, corns and
strawberries and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Dhib ‘Abdul
Dayem.
9. They razed a
14-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and dates and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Sara ‘Abdul Fattah al-Ramli.
10. They razed a
4-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Atteya ‘Abdul Qader Kilani.
11. They razed a
6-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mohammed ‘Abdul Qader Kilani.
12. They razed a
4-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Ataya ‘Abdul Khaliq Kilani.
13. They razed a
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul Khaliq al-Masharawi.
14. They razed a
14-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Sha’ban Mohammed ‘Abdul Dayem.
At approximately 20:15, an Israeli tank positioned in
the vicinity of the Palestinian security compound in Tulkarm fired an artillery
shell at the house of Mahmoud
al-Jallad. At the same time, Israeli
occupying forces opened fire at Palestinian houses in the town. Islam Fu’ad Jom’a Irhayel, 19, a member of
the Palestinian National Security Force from Tulkarm refugee camp, was killed
by shrapnel throughout the body. In
addition, seven civilians, including five from one family, were wounded:
1. Khaled Mustafa al-Haj Ahmed, 33, wounded by shrapnel
in the legs;
2. Mustafa Khaled al-Haj Ahmed, 5, wounded by shrapnel
in the right hand;
3. Hassan Khaled al-Haj Ahmed, ½, wounded by
shrapnel throughout the body;
4. Latifa Mustafa al-Haj Ahmed, 36, wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body;
5. Ferial Hassan al-Haj Ahmed, 28, wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body;
6. Fu’ad Jom’a Irhayel, 43, wounded by shrapnel in the
hands; and
7. Mohammed Hassan al-Tibi, 21, wounded by a live bullet
in the lower jaw.
At approximately 02:30, about 50 Israeli heavy
military vehicles, supported by combat helicopters, invaded the towns of
Ramallah and al-Bireh. They moved
towards the Palestinian security compound (Muqata’a) and surrounded the
Palestinian presidential headquarters. They shelled houses and public and private properties. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian
civilians were terrified. The Israeli
forces seized complete control over the two towns and al-Amari and Qaddura
refugee camps and imposed a curfew. They
raided houses searching for wanted Palestinians. They raided the house of Sheikh Hussein Abu
Kweik, a Hamas activist, to arrest him, but he was not there. Earlier this year, Abu Kwiek was subject to
an assassination attempt by Israeli occupying forces. He survived the attempt, but his wife and
three of his children were killed. Israeli forces also raided the house of Jihad Tamalia, the leader of
Fatah Movement in al-Amari refugee camp, and the house of Sheikh Faraj Rummana,
a Hamas activist, to arrest them, but they were not there. Four Israeli tanks also surrounded Ramallah
and Sheikh Zayed hospitals in the centre of Ramallah and denied the access of
Palestinians to the two hospitals.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces,
which seized control over Jenin on the previous day, surrounded an apartment
building owned by ‘Adnan ‘Ali Abu Ghali in al-Bassatin neighborhood in the
centre of the town. They forced its
residents out of the building and destroyed it. Israeli forces also arrested seven Palestinians who lived in the
building:
1. Mustafa Abu Hanansha, 45, head of the Palestinian
Military Intelligence in Jenin;
2. Mohammed Wajih Tahaina, 28, Hanansha’s bodyguard;
3. Ra’ed Saleh Farah, 25;
4. Baker Tawfiq al-Najjar, 24;
5. Mohammed Tawfiq al-Najjar, 20;
6. Fahad Tawfiq al-Najjar, 20; and
7. Tawfiq Mohammed al-Najjar, 55.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces
invaded the villages of Tubas and ‘Aqaba and al-Far’a refugee camp, east of Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and
seized complete control over these areas. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded in al-Far’a refugee camp:
1. Fidaa’ Tayseer Lutfi al-Ghoul, 12, wounded by a live
bullet in the left side;
2. Mu’tassem Mohammed ‘Abdul Jawad, 16, wounded by a
live bullet in the right thigh;
3. Sami Salem ‘Ersan, 55, wounded by a
live bullet in the back.
At approximately 14:00, upon the re-imposition of the
curfew of Nablus District, Israeli occupying soldiers on a tank passing on
Nablus-Juneid road at the southwestern entrance of Nablus, opened fire at a
Palestinian taxi that was traveling from Nablus to the nearby Juneid
village. A young man was traveling in
the taxi. As soon as Israeli soldiers
opened fire, the driver stopped the taxi and the young man got out of it
attempting to escape, but Israeli soldiers fired an artillery shell at him
killing him instantly. Israeli forces
denied the access of ambulances to his body until 23:00. The young man was identified in the following
morning as Sa’ed Mohammed al-Aqra’, 25, from Bedia village in Salfit
District. Israeli forces claimed that he
got out of the taxi and fired at the Israeli tank, but eyewitnesses denied such
claim and asserted that Israeli soldiers could have arrested him since he was
unarmed and did not pose any threat to their lives.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces, which
seized complete control over Jenin and its refugee camp, surrounded al-Naffaa’
building in the centre of the town. It
is a 2000-square-meter, three-story commercial building. Israeli forces destroyed shops of the building
located in Abu Baker Street for no apparent reason. Approximately 450 square meters of the
building were partially destroyed and fire broke out in a number of shops.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled
al-Rabwat area and al-‘Araishia neighborhood. Four artillery shells hit a 150-square-meter, tin-roofed house, in which
12 persons, including 5 children, live, owned by Khalil Mustafa al-Astal. Residents of the house survived as they left
the house when the shelling began. The
house was severely damaged. In addition,
a number of houses, approximately 300m away from the aforementioned settlement,
were slightly damaged.
At the same time, two Israeli armored bulldozers
moved approximately 600m into the cemeteries area in the southwest of Khan
Yunis. They demolished parts of the
fence of the cemeteries of al-Astal and ‘Abdul Ghafour
families. They also dug a hole into a
branch road. Israeli soldiers were
deployed in the cemeteries. They
searched a number of grave rooms defiling their status. The area is often shelled by Israeli forces,
and its residents fear that Israeli forces may have planted bombs or mysterious
explosives to target people who visit the area.
At
approximately 01:40, 150 Israeli heavy military vehicles, supported by combat
helicopters and covered by intense shelling, invaded the Palestinian National
Authority controlled part of Hebron. They seized complete control over the area. Israeli forces surrounded the Palestinian
security compound in the city (Muqata’a) and then shelled it. At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces
attempted to break into the compounded. Palestinian security men confronted the invading Israeli forces. Four Palestinian security men were killed:
1. Mohammed Ziad Matar Abu ‘Awad, 23, from Sammou’
village, an officer of the General Intelligence;
2. Khaled Yousef Mohammed Tumeizi, from Ethna village,
an officer of the General Intelligence;
3. Ashraf Ibrahim Dhib, 24, from Ethna village, a
policeman; and
4. Unidentified.
In addition, seven Palestinians were wounded.
At
approximately 05:30, Israeli occupying forces seized control over the
compound. They arrested Palestinian
security men and confiscated their personal weapons. One of those arrested was Colonel Nizham
‘Abdullah Mohammed al-Ja’bari, 40, head of the General Intelligence in
Hebron. Israeli forces went into his
bothers’ house and humiliated them. Then, they phoned al-Ja’bari from his brother’s mobile phone calling him
to surrender or they would arrest members of his family. Israeli forces also arrested Sheikh Jawad
Mahmoud Bahar, an Islamic leader. They
also raided the house of Na’im ‘Omran al-Sharbati, in which 24 persons live,
searching for the owner’s son Yasser, but he was not there. Israeli forces forced residents of the house
out and destroyed the house.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces
lifted the curfew imposed on Ramallah and al-Bireh to allow students of
secondary school to attend the general secondary school exam (Tawjihi). At approximately 09:40, Israeli forces
re-imposed the curfew and opened fire at students inside exam rooms and at
passing civilians. Two Palestinian
civilians were wounded:
1. Zaher Nazih ‘Oudeh Rimawi, 26, from Beit
Rima village, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
and
2. Jihad Hussein
Nakhla, 24, a journalist from al-Jalazoun refugee camp, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg.
According
to Nakhla, he was passing by al-Manara area in the centre of Ramallah, where he
saw a wounded Palestinian civilian. He
hurried to offer him help, but Israeli soldiers fired at him too and wounded
him. The two were evacuated to
hospital. Physicians decided that Nakhla
could go home. He went in an ambulance
towards al-Jalazoun refugee camp, but Israeli forces at Surda military
checkpoint stopped the ambulance for an hour. Then they forced Nakhla and the ambulance driver Mohammed ‘Ezra’il to get
out of it. They remained under the heat
of the sun for some period and then they were allowed to move.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 200m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the
Egyptian border in the south of Rafah. They demolished two houses totally and three houses partially:
1. They totally
demolished a house owned by Mzen Hamad Abu Baker.
2. They totally
demolished a house owned by Mohammed al-‘Abbadi.
3. They
partially demolished 150-square-meter, one-story house, in which 9 persons
live, owned by Nihad Mohammed Mustafa Abu al-So’ud.
4. They
partially demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5
persons live, owned by Isma’il Husni Mousa Abu al-So’ud.
5. They partially
demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 persons live,
owned by Saber Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
Israeli forces raided two houses and arrested four
Palestinian civilians:
1. Younis
Hussein Ghanem, 49;
2. Ziad Hussein
Ghanem, 42;
3. Islam Younis
Ghanem, 26; and
4. Mohammed
Younis Ghanem, 21.
Israeli forces also destroyed the electricity network
of the neighborhood.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces,
which seized complete control over Jenin, opened fire from a tank from a distance
of approximately 50m at some Palestinian children who were playing near a
shop. Bassam Ghassan al-Sa’di, 7, was
killed by a live bullet in the chest, and Fidaa’ Nemer Abu Qandil, 9, was
wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
In a continuation of the assassination policy
officially adopted by the Israeli government against Palestinian activists and
political leaders, on Monday 24 June, Israeli occupying forces assassinated six
Palestinians, including three brothers.
Two of the killed were apparently wanted by the Israeli Occupying Forces; the
others killed in the operation were innocent civilians. The operation took
place in al-Joneina neighborhood in Rafah in the south of the Gaza strip.
According the PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
07:00, an Israeli apache helicopter fired two missiles against a taxi carrying
five passengers. When hit, the taxi was only about 500 m from Abu Yousef
al-Najjar Hospital. The shelling completely destroyed the car, all five
passengers were killed. They are:
1. Yasser Sa’id Rizq, 29, a Hamas activist. He was on his way to the hospital for medical
treatment after he was injured in his hand at the beginning of this month.
2. Bassam Sa’id Rizq, 32, the brother of Yasser. He
accompanying his brother to the hospital.
3. Yousef Sa’id Rizq, 24, also a brother of Yasser, was
also accompanying him to the hospital.
4. Ameer Moha`md Qfaa, 28. His house was attacked by the
Israeli Occupation Forces a few months ago in an attempt to arrest him, but he
was not there.
5. Sami Omr Omr, 29, the taxi
driver.
In addition, other cars driving in the area, were hit
by big pieces of shrapnel. Midhat ‘Abdul Hadi al-Jourani, 17, who was sitting in the
back seat of one of the cars, was killed when his head was separated from his
body by shrapnel. Moreover, 13 other bystanders were injured. The bodies of the
victims were too damaged to be immediately identified. The ambulances and civil
defense vehicles arrived to the area and transferred the damaged bodies and
wounded people to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital for medical treatment. Those wounded were:
1. ‘Aaisha Mohammed ‘Omar Khalil, 42, wounded by
shrapnel and sustained bruises in the arms;
2. Samir Suleiman al-Masri, 24, wounded by shrapnel in
the neck and the shoulder;
3. ‘Emad Mahmoud Mousa, 39,
wounded by shrapnel in the head and the shoulder;
4. Ibrahim Hassan Na’na’, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the
left thigh;
5. Tal’at Mahmoud al-‘Okor, 43, wounded by shrapnel in
the head and the limbs;
6. Rasha Mahmoud Mousa, 36, wounded by shrapnel in the
left ear;
7. Isma’il Ahmed Abu Sha’ar, 25, wounded by shrapnel in
the face;
8. Riadh Zare’ Abu Hadayed, 37, wounded by shrapnel in
the left shoulder;
9. Khaled Mousa Hijazi, 36, wounded by shrapnel in the
face and the limbs;
10. Mahmoud Mohammed al-Ja’fari, 26, wounded by shrapnel
in the face and the limbs;
11. Majdi Mohammed Abu Leila, 20, wounded by shrapnel in
the right shoulder;
12. Khaled Mahmoud al-Sha’er, 28, wounded by shrapnel in
the right shoulder; and
13. Mohammed ‘Omar Khalil, 42, wounded by
shrapnel in the head and the limbs.
The operation came short after the announcement made
by the Israeli Government to deploy a series of measures aimed at escalating
the attacks against the Palestinians people and their properties. These
measures have been implemented by reoccupying most of the West Bank and
announcing that the Israeli Occupying Forces would stay there for a longer
period of time. In addition, the Israeli government declared its intention to
deport the families of suicide bombers and to resume assassinations.
In an excessive use of force, Israeli occupying
forces indiscriminately fired at some Palestinian laborers working in “Erez” industrial
zone in the northern Gaza Strip, in an attempt to hit a suspected person. Two laborers and the suspected person were
killed.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
07:00, Israeli occupying soldiers at “Erez” (Beit Hanoun) crossing fired
indiscriminately at a number of Palestinian laborers who were in the checking
room on their way to their work in the industrial zone adjacent to the
crossing. Two laborers were killed:
1. ‘Adnan Saleh ‘Ajjur, 27, from al-Tuffah
neighborhood in Gaza; and
2. Isma’il Khamis Jibril al-Shirafi, 33, from Jabalya
refugee camp.
The person whom Israeli soldiers suspected, Hatem
Mahmoud Nusseir, 27, from Beit Hanoun, was also killed. Israeli forces claimed that he was carrying
hand grenades. He was not a
laborer. No eyewitness confirmed the
Israeli claim and no Palestinian organization claimed responsibility for
him. It is not clear why he went
there. However, according to
eyewitnesses, Israeli forces could have arrested him.
Medical personnel were allowed access to the area
only three hours later after having been checked by Israeli forces. The bodies were evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital
in Gaza, where medical sources asserted that the three were killed by several
live bullets throughout the body.
At approximately 05:15, Israeli occupying forces in a
military location south of “Erez” (Beit Hanoun) industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip,
fired at a number of Palestinian laborers for no apparent reason. There laborers were wounded:
1. Ra’ed Ahmed al-Sharif, 26, from Janbalya refugee
camp, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
2. Ra’ed Abu Jarad, 27, from Beit Hanoun, wounded by a
live bullet in the right knee; and
3. Jamil ‘Aamer Ghabbun, 42, from
Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder.
Jewish settlers, under full protection of Israeli
occupying forces, continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians in the
OPT. At approximately 16:00 on Friday,
21 June, armed settlers from “Eitamar”, “Brakha” and “Yitshar” settlements attacked Burin
village, south of Nablus. They broke
doors and windows of houses and opened fire indiscriminately before the eyes of
Israeli occupying forces. A settler
fired at ‘Othman Edris ‘Abdul Hamid Shehada, 23, killing him with a live bullet
in the heart. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli forces did not intervene to stop these attacks. Rather they even
prevented Palestinian civilians from defending themselves. They also prevented the evacuation of Shehada
to the hospital.
This week, Israeli occupying forces arrested a number of Palestinians. The arrests took place in the
following circumstances:
1. At international border
crossings, under the control of Israeli occupying forces.
2. At Israeli military roadblocks
on main and branch roads at the entrances to Palestinian cities and villages.
3. In Palestinian towns and
villages, often during house raids.
4. During incursions into
Palestinian areas.
The
following are significant arrests that took place this week:
Friday, 21
June 2002
At
approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fourik village,
east of Nablus, and imposed a curfew. They raided a number of houses and arrested four Palestinians:
1. Shehada ‘Abdul Mahdi Hanini, 17;
2. Jaber ‘Abdul Latif Nasasra, 27;
3. ‘Aasef
Mahfouzh Nasasra, 25; and
4. Firas ‘Afif Sarsak, 24.
Saturday, 22
June 2002
At
approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces stopped Mohammed Lutfi Yassin,
55, from Bitounia village west of Ramallah, Director General of the Palestinian
Finance Ministry, at the entrance of the village and arrested him. Yassin have already spent 17 years in Israeli
jails.
*****
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international
community to provide immediate and independent international protection for the
Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene in order to take
effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under Article 1, to ensure
the respect of the Convention.
3. Upon the international
community to investigate and prosecute those believed to have committed war
crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories before international courts.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its
presence, expand its activities, and intensify its field observations
throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to
activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides
that Israel must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international
community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian
people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of
the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation
forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.
